Skip to main content

US announces $12 million assistance for Hurricane Matthew response

US President Barack Obama

US President Barack Obama

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced more than $12 million in additional humanitarian assistance to help communities affected by Hurricane Matthew. With this funding, the United States is providing nearly $14 million for immediate Hurricane Matthew relief efforts in Haiti, Jamaica, and The Bahamas.

The funding, according to USAID will provide critical food assistance and relief supplies to hard-hit areas in Haiti’s southwestern peninsula, as well as transportation and logistics support to help USAID’s United Nations and non-governmental organizations partners reach communities in the Grand’ Anse and Sud regions.

There are currently 1.4 million Haitians in need of humanitarian assistance, according to the UN, which issued a flash funding appeal to the international community on October 10.

Nearly $7 million of this additional funding will support the UN World Food Program’s (WFP) efforts to provide urgently needed food assistance to 750,000 people for three months. It is also being used to provide and transport 6,600 boxes of ready-to- use supplementary foods to prevent and treat malnutrition. More than $2 million of this assistance will help ramp up WFP’s logistics and telecommunications capacity to enhance efficiency and coordination of land, sea, and air cargo operations in Haiti.

The remaining nearly $3 million has gone toward the provision of more than 515 metric tons of relief supplies-including blankets, hygiene kits, kitchen sets, chain saws, water containers, generators, and heavy-duty plastic sheeting-that USAID has been airlifting to Haiti and The Bahamas. USAID is also providing a three month’s supply of chlorine to be used in piped water systems throughout Haiti, with an immediate focus on high-risk areas, as well as water purification tablets that will help provide safe drinking water for 475,000 people.

USAID deployed an elite Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to Haiti, Jamaica, and The Bahamas on October 3 in advance of Hurricane Matthew’s arrival to lead the U.S. government’s response efforts to the strongest storm to hit the central Caribbean in almost a decade. The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is providing airlift and logistical capacities to support USAID’s efforts to deliver critical humanitarian assistance to areas cut off by the storm. DoD has also authorized up to $11 million in Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster, and Civic Aid funds to be spent in support of USAID’s disaster relief efforts.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Houthis Claim Attack on Central Israel in Response to Gaza ‘Massacres’

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has taken a concerning regional turn as the Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for an attack on central Israel. The group announced this as part of their escalating response to what they describe as "massacres" in Gaza amid the Israeli military’s operations in the strip. Details of the Attack The Houthis, a Shiite militant group with ties to Iran, declared that they launched missile and drone strikes targeting Israel. While the exact impact of these attacks remains unclear, reports suggest that Israel’s defense systems intercepted several threats over its airspace. This marks a significant escalation as the Houthis widen their involvement in the conflict beyond their typical operations within Yemen and neighboring Saudi Arabia. The Houthis’ Justification In their statement, the Houthis framed the attack as retaliation for Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which they characterized as indiscriminate bombings resultin...
Post a Comment
Read more

Fire: UniJos Senate convenes emergency meeting on Monday

Fire at the University of Jos Library University of Jos is to convene an emergency senate meeting on Monday to review the level of damage done to the institution by the Saturday night inferno. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sebastian Maimako, disclosed this on Sunday after inspecting areas affected by the incident. The fire, which lasted for more than six hours, destroyed the Library Complex that equally houses the faculties of management and social sciences. The fire also destroyed examination scripts, books and very crucial materials. Consequently, the vice-chancellor said “the Senate will meet tomorrow (Monday) to take a decision about the unmarked examination scripts that were burnt.” On the cause of the inferno, Maimako said investigation had commenced, adding that “nothing has been confirmed yet. We are still investigating.” The vice chancellor said the school was already working with federal authorities toward establishing a main fire station since the mini fire station in t...
Post a Comment
Read more

Fall of Assad is a Blow to Russia's Prestige

The potential fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a long-standing ally of Russia, would mark a turning point in Moscow’s global influence, particularly in the Middle East. Steve Rosenberg’s analysis underscores the profound implications for Russia, which has invested heavily—both militarily and politically—in ensuring Assad’s survival over the past decade. This article delves into why Assad’s downfall would strike at the core of Russian prestige and what it could mean for the broader geopolitical landscape. Russia's Strategic Commitment to Syria Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Russia has been a staunch supporter of Assad's regime. In 2015, Moscow launched a military intervention that proved decisive in stabilizing Assad’s hold on power. This intervention solidified Russia's role as a key power broker in the Middle East and demonstrated its willingness to project military power far beyond its borders. Syria is not just an ally for Russia; it is a...
Post a Comment
Read more